I switched UA to BMI last May, I have found that I can get decent priced fares to NZ-UK with SQ, that earn 100% miles, their website is good at telling you if you will earn. The main benefit is that of cash and miles redemption's, sure you can't upgrade with BMI DC miles, but you can buy seats in C and F, which are both changeable, refundable and you know your sitting upfront without the upgrade waiting game.

Also we don't know what will happen to BMI and / or DC yet, if and when LH buys BMI...

All that said, I have recently had to move to flying CO, as no *A carrier currently (I know AI and CO will join at some point) fly's on my main 2 routes DUB-NYC or LHR-NYC and I had enough of UA durring the winter with messed up connections...

tht